How does the cloud work?
Making sense of this misunderstood technology.
First, what is 'The Cloud' anyway?
The Short Answer:
The cloud is a bunch of servers connected to the internet.
The Long Answer:
The cloud refers to a network of servers that are interconnected and distributed across various locations globally. These servers are designed to store and process data, delivering various services and applications over the internet. Instead of storing data on local hardware or physical devices, such as your computer's hard drive, the cloud enables users to utilize remote servers accessed through the internet to store and access their data.
So, when you store something in the cloud, for example a PDF file or photo, you are simply letting a server hold onto to it until you need to access it. This allows you to free up space on your devices without losing access to your stuff.
What does the cloud look like?
Surprisingly, the cloud is very much a physical place, a server. Usually, these servers are owned by the business you are choosing to store data with, for example Dropbox, Microsoft, or Apple.
So how does it work?
When you upload something to the cloud, most of the time it is broken down into small pieces called data blocks. These data blocks are then distributed and stored across multiple servers in different data centers. This redundancy in storage ensures that even if one server fails, your data can still be accessed from another server.
To retrieve your data from the cloud, you simply send a request to the cloud service provider. The provider locates the relevant data blocks using indexing and metadata techniques and assembles them to recreate your file. This data is then transferred back to your device, allowing you to access and use it as needed.
The cloud provides various features, such as scalability and accessibility, allowing users to store, retrieve, and share their data from anywhere with an internet connection. It also offers backup and disaster recovery capabilities, assuring that your data remains safe even in the event of hardware failures or other unforeseen circumstances.
What about cloud computing?
Cloud computing and cloud storage are related concepts and will generally both fall under the 'cloud services' category, but they are not the same thing. While they both leverage similar underlying technologies, they serve different purposes and have distinct functionalities. It's a common misconception that cloud storage is the same as cloud computing.
What is cloud computing?
Cloud storage is used for storing and preserving data, while cloud computing is utilized for performing specific tasks and projects.
How does it work?
Cloud computing basically allows users to 'borrow' a more powerful computer system to do some sort of computation. Cloud service providers offer users the ability to utilize the cloud for a range of computational tasks, including running intricate algorithms, processing vast amounts of data, hosting websites or applications, and more. By delegating these tasks to the cloud, users can access the substantial computing capabilities, scalability, and flexibility made available by cloud service providers.
How can my business utilize the cloud?
A business can utilize the cloud in several ways:
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Data storage and backup
The cloud provides a secure and scalable platform to store and backup business data, eliminating the need for physical servers and reducing the risk of data loss.
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Collaboration and communication
Cloud-based collaboration tools like Google Workspace or Microsoft Teams allow employees to collaborate on projects in real-time from anywhere, enhancing productivity and streamlining communication.
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Disaster recovery
With data stored in the cloud, businesses can easily recover their data in case of any disaster, such as hardware failure, natural disasters, or cyber-attacks. Cloud providers often have robust backup and recovery mechanisms in place to ensure data integrity.
Our Cloud Services
Our cloud solutions provide your organization with the power to manage projects and tasks, strengthen virtual communication processes, and reduce errors in the process. Dove offers customized and user-friendly solutions that flex with the needs of multiple departments without adding work for the IT team.
Backup & Disaster Recovery
Ensure your critical business data is backed up safely and securely without complexity with our high-performance backup and disaster recovery (BDR) solutions.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
Utilize our fast and scalable cloud infrastructure for application hosting, software development, and other projects without spending time or money maintaining expensive servers, networking equipment, or firewalls.
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
Migrate your users and applications to our cloud systems to reduce routine time spent maintain and provisioning devices.
Backup as a Service (BaaS)
Automatic backups built around your customized schedule will ensure that all of your data is securely stored in the cloud and can be restored whenever needed.
Plus, so much more!
For a complete list, please click 'Learn more'.